Nigel Farage worried Kippers will mistake him for clown

As Ukip has sought to professionalise itself by dulling the, er, sharper edges of the party, many of the crankier pronouncements of the party faithful have been toned down or silenced entirely.

Many other commentators have noticed that this is something of a double-edged sword for the Kippers, with their peculiar brand of “common sense” being the reason people were attracted to them in the first place.

What a relief for all concerned then when Ukip leader Nigel Farage called for the abolition of the Electoral Commission at the party’s south west spring conference in Torquay, claiming that it was failing “in all its key duties”.

“[The Electoral Commission] has sanctioned joke and spoiler parties, which only last year had a material impact on the outcome of the European Elections, costing Ukip at least two seats.”

This has been taken by some as a reference to one Al Murray, a comedian who is standing in South Thanet against Mr Farage as part of the Freedom United Kingdom Party (FUKP). Following the Kippers comments the party issued the following statement: